Swedish-American aircraft maker Heart Aerospace said Thursday it had completed the first flight of its X1 demonstrator, calling it the largest battery-electric aircraft ever flown.

The aircraft, which has a wingspan of 106 feet and weighs more than 25,000 pounds at takeoff, flew for 27 minutes on Wednesday at Heart's flight-test base at Plattsburgh International Airport in upstate New York, the company said in a statement. It reached an altitude of 1,100 feet and drew more than one megawatt of power from its all-electric propulsion system during the piloted flight.

The flight was carried out under a special airworthiness certificate issued by the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration and included taxiing, takeoff, climbing, maneuvering, and landing, according to the company.

Heart Aerospace said the flight used about $5 worth of electricity, a figure it contrasted with rising jet fuel costs. Global jet fuel prices averaged $3.50 per gallon for the week ending August 7, up 63 percent from a year earlier, the company said, citing the increase as evidence of the potential for electric propulsion to lower airline operating costs.

"With the first flight of X1, Heart Aerospace has demonstrated electric flight at the scale of a commercial airliner," said Anders Forslund, the company's founder and chief executive, adding that electrification could help make air travel more affordable and frequent.

The X1 is a full-scale demonstrator built to validate technology for Heart's planned ES-30, a 30-seat hybrid-electric regional airliner the company is developing for certification under FAA Part 25 rules. The aircraft has drawn commitments from several airlines, including United Airlines, Air Canada, and JSX.

United Airlines Chief Financial Officer Michael Leskinen described the flight as "a major technical achievement for Heart Aerospace, a company United has been proud to support." 

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Air Canada Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer John Di Bert said the flight marked "an important milestone" in the airline's broader push toward newer aviation technologies alongside efficiency improvements and sustainable fuels. 

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Heart Aerospace is targeting entry into service for the ES-30 in 2031 and says it expects the aircraft to cut operating costs by more than 40 percent compared with legacy regional aircraft, citing lower energy and maintenance costs. The company is building its first pre-production ES-30 at a plant in Los Angeles, with flight testing due to begin in 2028.

Heart Aerospace said it has secured $9.4 billion in customer commitments from carriers including United and Air Canada.

Source: PR